Electrical igniting apparatus.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

E. S. HUFF. ELECTRICAL IGNITING APPARATUS.

' APPLIIOATIION FILED JULY 1, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 1? dfffivlllliffldrflllffflf v/l/ 5 WITNESSES:

No. 882,003. I PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. E. S. HUPP.

ELECTRICAL IGNITING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WJTNESSES: l/VVENTOR.

P wiugamkm/ g, A g

tain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Igniting UN TED STATES PATENT oF uoE.

EDWARD/S. HUFF, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY roan, OF DETROIT, i

i MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL renrrmc APPARATUS.

Application. filed July 1, 1905. SeriaLN 0. 267,923.

i with the armature shaft-and E is a bal bearing secured in one of the openings for the support of the-end b of the: armature shaft which and carries on itsfree outer end the-drive connection (not shown) of thearmatnre-With moving part of the enginev site opening of the casing are secured the l bearingE and the insulating disk To altwkom tif /nay concern: (I ends concentric Be it known that I, EDWARDS. HUFr,'- a

citizen of the United States of -A1nerica,:re-

Apparatus, of which the followlng 1s a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

his Invention relates to electric igniters he end -c-of thesarmature shaft is supported for explosive engines and the like and has in the ball bearing E; it is hollow and con for its particular object to provide a simple ains aninsulating bushing (Z terminating compact and effective apparatus for the suc a ontact disk (1 which carries -a metalllc oessive firing of the charges in nnilti-cylinder contact strip e extending diametrically engines. To this end have devise an im across. itnand in electrical connection with proved apparatus which Involves the pro one terminal of the conductor D the other duction of a jumpspark at the-respective passes through the bearing .In: the oppo- I of the engine at the moment required wholl :Theuinsulat'ing ,disi: F carries "a' binding from t e periodic discharges of a condenser post G which is electrically connected in'the primary of an inductioncoil, the throughianzarm' f with: the fixed brush or secondary of which contains in :(liflOI'GIll) contact pin f contained in a buslriing branches thereof the aforesaid sparking: terformed on the arm; the free end of the latter minals As the discharges from a condenser being secured to the disk by a binding screw are instantaneous an efficient spark willaalf The contact pin is pressed against the through the magneto thereof between which thearmature contact disff byia' small coil spring and-operates to periodicallycontact with thecontact rstripa twicet in each revolution'of the armature during the periods when the potentialof the generated current rises to its highest point. i

The disk F is removably: held in position by screwsf and fits tight in-to the opening on t e casing while at the 'opposite end of the armature shafta dust guard E -is secured in sthe opening of vthe casing. -Upon-theend 6 -01 the-armature shaft is secured a gearwheel and this meshes with a gear wheel H fast =upon one end: ofthe-shaftI directly-(above shown in the accompanying drawingadn Figure 1, is a vertical ,central: section generator of; thee-apparatus Fig. 2, a verticalcrosssection thereof substantially in the plane:;vx.Fi ..1; the gear WheelH. 2Theshaft I-is 'journaled 1 g; -3, an end elevation of Fig. 1,- partTyw in in hell bearings-gig whioh are supported an section; Fig. 4,- a diagrammatic representaopposite ends :of a hollow armh. =integrally cast Widill'OIlG of the halvesiof the oasin and projecting into the casing. The shaft "pro jectsat one end through the casingand carries upon its free end a cam tion of the whole ap aratus and Fig-5, ;a horizontal section on ine y-y Fig. 3.

represents the permanent magnet ofan electro magnetic generator, B the pole pieces rotates, C the armature and D the conductor Wound thereon, the armature being ofthe common H type.

The whole generator is inclosedzeina dust proof outer casing preferably of cast :aluminium and constructed in two halvessecured together by bolts (1. The lower part. f this casing has openings in its opposite s ark plugs to the engine. This cam is inc osed within a housingi-K rotatively and ad- 'ustably mounted upon the-generator casing ynieans of-a hollow nipple secured in the hollowarm and havingia mounted upon it. :The front wall of the housing, which is removable: and of insulating material carries a binding :post L in elec- =wheel J which carries asirnany eamprmeotmns t= as there are A earlng sleeve 7" contact with Y I contact arm N is secured upon an insulatlng the contact arm N successively ma es contwice the diameter of the gear trical connectionthrough a copper strip k with a post 7c secured to but insulated from the housin and carrying the adjustable contact screw adapted to contact with a movable contact 1 pivotally secured at Z in electrical connection with the housing and thereby with the frame of the generator. The binding post G is also connected through a copper strip k with the binding post L. The movable contact Z is urged into contact with k by a small coil s ring m pressing upon the movable pin m, ut it is periodically forced out of contact therewith by the cam rojections i on the revolving cam J. The housing K has an arm L which is suitably connected with operating mechanism (not shown) whereby its rotative adjustment is brought under the control of the driver for the urpose of advancin or retarding the spar as will be more fu ly hereinafter described.

a The gear wheel H revolves within an extended opening in the side of the casing and in the outer end thereof are removably secured two insulating disks M M by suitable shoulders formed in the opening of the casing and contact studs p are carried by the disk M and circularly grouped around the center thereof. These studs form binding posts for the branches of the secondary circuit of an induction coil which leads to one 'of each pair of electrodes of thespark plugs of the engine, the other electrode ofeach pair being as usual in electrical connection with the frame of the engine. The contact studs p pass through the inner "disk \fand form en arged contacts upon theinner wall thereof and a,central contact stud ".whichforms one terminal of the seconc ary circuit is formed with a socket in its inner end containing a small coil spring and a loose pin p which is urged inwardly by the spring into a spring contact arm N.

plate 0 carried by the gear wheel H all so arranged that at each revolution of the .shaft I tact with one of the contact studs 12 synchronously with contact 7c and as the gear 'wheel H is just at the same intervals of time as betacts p the contacts a and f,

tween theclosing of however the closing other as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The wall of the casing inclosing the insulating disks M and M closes the space between the dislcs except on top which is formed with openings cthrough which the conductmg wires from the contact studs p p are car'- ried to their different connections. By this spaced apart This that of the contact plate I and.

wheel H the arm N will successively contact with the conmeans of does not tae place at the same time but at intervals one after an-f electrical contact devices together with the generator are all inclosed within a dust proof casing of non-magnetic but conducting material and at the same time all the parts are readily accessible for inspection or other attention required, all of which is an important advantage for the efficient and reliable worl'iing ofthe apparatus, special attention being given to light running obviating the use of a lubricant, and for fastening all parts securely together, so that vibrations or jars cannot affect them.

My apparatus embodies further an induction coil and a condenser, these may be 0 any known construction and being of known operation no special description thereof is necessary further than to say that they will be inclosed by themselves in a tight casing (not shown).

Passing now to the description of the apparatus as a whole reference is made to Fig. 4, wherein Q denotes the enerator, R the condenser, P and S the primary and secondary respectively of an induction coil and P P l? P the pairs of electrodes forming the spark gaps of the igniting circuits, the other reference letters referring to the corresponding parts of the other figures except that the reference numerals 2, 3 and4 are used to designate the conductors of the primary circuit.

The circuit connections are made as follows: One terminal of the armature conductor is connected to the contact 6 and the other is grounded on the frame; the brush f is electrically connected by conductor to the contact screw k; a conductor 2 connects the contact 7c with one side of the condenser and the other side of the condenser is connected through a conductor 3 with the primary P of the induction coil. The other terminal of the primary and the movable .contact 1 are grounded on the frame of the generator (or engine) which is re resented y conductor' i and the secondary. has one terminal in electrical connecton with the arm N and the other terminal thereof is in electrical connection with one electrode of each spark plug, the other electrode of said plugs being in electrical connection with the contacts 1) through separate branches. By these connections, the generator is serially connected with the primary and with the condenser into a circuit which forms the charging circuit of the condenser and this circuit is wholly controlled by the circuit controller formed of the contacts a the conductors 2, 3 and 4. whenever the contacts 76 Z are closed by the cam J and this circuit forms the discharge circuit of the condenser and its closing and opening is wholly controlled by the cam J in connection with the contacts lc l.

The armature which is round with a conthe condenser however is included in a, separate circuit with the primary through ductor of very high resistance is driven by electricity and forms part of a charging cir-- suitable connection .with the engine and cuit and the other-of which forms part of a generates a current of very high voltage and discharging circuit, each including the prithe only circuit provided-for it is at the mary, and means. in each of said branches 5 moment when the contacts a coincide with adapted to periodical y open and close said 70 v the brush f which occurs twice in the revolucharging and discharging circuits, one cirtion of the armature at the time when its cuit being open while the other is closed.

potential is the highest. During these 2. In an electric igniting apparatus, the

periods the cam J holds the contact plate Z combination with an induction coil, of a out of contact with the fixed contact 7c and condenser having its opposite ends connected 75 the armature is therefor connected into the with the opposite ends of the primary, one of charging-circuit of the condenser which is said connections being formed through two formed by the conductors 2, 3, 4 and the branches one of which includes a source of primary of the induction coil and through electricity and forms part of a charging cirthis circuit the condenser will be charged cuit for the condenser and the other of which 80 to its full capacity with the high *oltage the forms part of its discharging circuit, each generator is capable of producing. Before including the primary, and means in each of the cam J has revolved far enough to re-- said branches adapted to periodically open lease the contact plate Z the brush f has run and close said charging and discharging off the contact stripe and the charge in the circuits, the, means in the discharging cir- 5- condenser thus-becomes trapped till the procuit being variable in relation to those-in the jection & of the cam which has-actuated the charging circuit; contact-Z has-passed over it and permits it In an electric igniting apparatus, the to dropback upon the contact lc thereby combination with the primary of an 1nducclosing the discharge circuit for the con- I tion coil, of a condenser, a source ofelec- 90 denser byway of the primarythrough conduc tricity therefor adapted to charge the same, tors 2,14 and 3. This sets up a current in the charging and discharging circuits connectsecondary which is synchronously closed by ing the condenser-with the source and with the arm N through the branches thereof and the primary respectively, circuit controlling thereby produces the igniting spark in the devices-operating in unison with each other 5 i and adapted to periodically make and break said circuits at intervals apart and means fortiming the making and breaking-of the discharge circuit in relation to that of the-charging circuit.

4. In an electric igniting apparatus, the combination withan induction coil having in its-secondary circuit a plurality. of electrodes forming spark gaps in different under'the control of .the driver, the time for 100 a vanced or retarded and the circuit controller= of the discharge circuit thus forms a timing device for the spark within the 40 limits-desired. To insure the proper'closin of the secondary which has to be closed at the same time, the contacts 1) are suitably enlarged to produce electrical contact with the arm N at any adjustment of this circuit controller.

v In the operation of my device the two cir cuits are never closed at the same time, thus the primary circuit is always open when the ingits opposite ends connected with the opposite ends of the primary, one of said connections being formed through two branches one of which includes a source ofelectricity and forms part; of a charging cir- 110 cuit for the condenser and the other of which forms part of its discharging circuit, means in each of said branches adapted to periodically open and close said charging and from the condenser will thus take place discharging circuits and means in the second- 5 through a circuit of low resistance and be ary circuit to periodically open and close instantaneous, while at the other hand the said circuit successively through its different charging circuit being a circuit of high resistbranches'in unison with the discharge cir ancewill charge the condenser with a very cuit ofthe condenser. I high potential which is further raised by'the 5. In an electric igniting apparatus, the 120 secondary and thus. produce very powerful combination with an induction coll having;

sparks I a plurality of pairs of electrodes forming Having thus fully described myinvention, spark gaps included in different branches of 1 what I claim is1- its secondary circuit, of a condenser conbranchesof the circuit, of a-condenser'h-avs 0 1 In an electric igniting apparatus, the nected in circuit with the primary thereof, 5,

combination with an induction co l,-of a consaid circuit being formed with two separate denser having its opposite ends connected branches between one end of said condenser with the opposite ends of the primary, one of and its connection with the primary, a source. said connections being formed through two of electricity in one of said branches, a cir- 5 branches, one of which includes a source of cuit controlling device in each with the engine for closing said secondary armature of circuits at intervals apart, the

discharging former at predetermined points in the revolution of the moving part of the magneto and the latter at determinable points in the travel of the pistons of the engines.

9. In an electric igniting apparatus for multiple cylinder explosion engines, the combination with an induction coil including in separate branches of its secondary circuit pairs of electrodes forming spark aps in the cylinders of the engine and a con enser in its primary circuit, 0 a-magnetoof-the interrupted pole type inclosed within a tight housing forming bearings for the armature shaft, means for operating said magneto in unison with the engine, a circuit controller having a rotary member carried by the armature shaft and adapted to periodically connect hemagneto into circuit with the condenser and charge thesame, a second circuit controller inclosed within the housing of the magneto and having a rotary member driven by the armature shaft and a stationary member rotatively adjustable around the rotary member, said circuit controller adapted to periodically make and break the primary circuit, and a switch inclosed within the housing and having a movable member actuated by the shaftof the second controller and adapted. to 'successivgily branches adapted to periodically 0 en and close the circuit through said branc es, one being 0 en while the other is closed and a switch in the secondary circuit operating in' unison with the circuit controlling devices to successively close thesecondary circuit throu h its different branches.

6. In an electric igniting apparatus, the combination with an induction coil and a pair of electrodes included inthe secondary circuit thereof and forming a spark gap, of a condenser, a magneto adapted to charge the same, charging and discharging circuits connectin said condenser with the magneto and with the primary of the induction coil respectively, and .circuit controlling devices operating in unison with the. magneto an adapted to periodically make and break the charging and discharging circuits, the charging circuit being made and'broken at predetermined points in the revolution of the the magneto in advance of making and breaking the discharge circuit and means for timing the making and breaking of the discharge circuit.

7. In an electric igniting apparatus for multiple cylinder explosive engines, the com-- bination'with a condenser, a charging circuit therefor, a magneto in said charging circuit operated by the engine and ada ted to periodically produce anelectric disc arge in said circuit at a predetermined point in the intervals between the firingof the charges in the cylinders of the engine, the charging circuit being open in the intervals between the charging of the condenser, an induction coil, a discharging circuit connecting the condenser iri circuit with the primaryv thereof, a circuit controller in said discharging circuit operating to periodically open said circuit when the condenser is being charged and to close said circuit at the time when the spark is required, a secondary circuit containing pairs of electrodes in different branches of the circuit and a switch operating in unison with the circuit controller to close the secondary circuit successively through the different branches of said circuit simultaneously with the closing of the discharge circuit of the condenser.

'8. In an electric igniting apparatus 4 for multiple rcylinder explosion engines, the combination with an induction coil includin in separate branches of its circuit pairs of e ectrodes forming spark'gaps in the cylinders of the engine and a switch operating in unison close the secondary circuit through its ferent branches. x

10. In an. electric igniting apparatus for multiple cylinder explosive engines in which the sparks are produced by the periodic dis- I charges of a condenser through the p'rimary of an induction coil containing the igniting devices in separate branches of its secondary circuit, the combination of a magneto having actuating connection with the engine, a tight casing inclosing said magneto, a circuit controller having its rotary member carried by the armature shaft and adapted to periodically make and break the charging circuit of the condenser, a shaft journaled in the casing of the magneto above the armature, intermediate gearing for driving said shaft from the armature shaft, a switch. having its movable member carried by one end 0 said shaft and adapted to periodically the secondary circuit through the different branches thereoi'and a circuit controller in the primary of the induction coil having a rotary membercarri'ed by the other end of the shaft and a fixed memberrotatively adjustable on said shaft.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature 12 in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD s. HUFF.

successively through its different branches, of a condenser, a magneto driven by the engine, charging and discharging circuits for the condenser and circuit controlling devices operating in unison with the engine to periodically make and break the chargingv and JWitnesses:

' J. O. r AYES,

Or'ro F. BAR'rnnL. 

